Fan-blower heating apparatus



No. 623,348. Patented Apr. 18, I899.

W. E. ALLINGTON.

FAN BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.)

(No Mudel.) 7 Sfieets-Sheat No. 2 ,34 Patented Apr. 18, I899, W. E.ALLINGTDN.

FAN BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I I W 95) f I AZ r\ MO69MWQ yw m (a Patented Apr. l8, I899. W. E.ALLINGTUN.

FAN BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.) (No Model.)

7 SheefsSheet 3,

No. 623,348. Patented Apr. l8, I899.

W. E. ALLINGTON. FAN BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6. 1599.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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Patented Apr. l8, I899. W. E. ALLINGTUN.

FAN BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.)

7 SheetsSheet 5.

No Model.)

No. 623,348. Patented Apr. l8, I899. W. E. ALLINGTON.

FAN BLOWER HEATlNG APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.)

7 Sheets$heet 6.

(No Model.)

No. 623,348. Patented Apr. l8, I899. W. E. ALLINGTON.

FAN BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6. 1899.;

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Uivrrn TATES PATENT err,

WILLIAM E. ALLINGTON, OF SAGINAIV, MICHIGAN.

FAN-BLOWER HEATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,348, dated April18, 1899.

Application filed February 6. 1899. Serial No. L701. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM E. ALLING- TON, of Saginaw, East Side, inthe county of Saginaw and State of Michigamhave invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fan- Blower Heating Apparatus, of whichthefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to fan-blower heating apparatus, or, in otherwords, to that class of heating and ventilating apparatus in whichrotary fans are employed for the purpose of inducing and delivering theair-currents to be heated. Heretofore in practice it has been customaryto construct a separate heater of steam-pipes and to inclose saidsteam-pipes in a suitable casing, with which casing a rotary fan-bloweris connected for the purpose of either drawing or blowing theair-currents over the pipes in the heater-case in one direction withrelation to said pipes-that is to say, either transversely orlongitudinally thereof. lVith this construction only about one-half ofthe entire heating-surface of the pipes is effective in heating theair-currents to wit, that portion of the heating-surface which ispresented toward the incoming aircurrents. It is therefore with thisconstruction necessary to furnish a heater with nearly double the actualheating-surface which would be required to do the work in the case of aheater so constructed as to cause the aircurrents to come into contactwith the entire surface of the pipes. Moreover, the space occupied by anapparatus constructed on this plan with the fan and heater separated,but joined by a suitable duct or conduit through which the air isdelivered from the fan to the heater, often makes it difficult to findsufficient room for installation. Moreover, in heaters of this type thecirculation ofthe steam is imperfect, and theyare also subject to airbinding within the pipes, these causes producing further loss ofeiiiciency, while in some of the formsiucommon use theleast efficientparts of the heater are the most expensive to manufacture. It has alsobeen proposed to inclose the fan in a casing having a single tangentialoutlet in its peripheral portion, the casing being of greater diameterthan the fan and the heating-pipes occupying the space thus formedbetween the fan and the periphery of the casing. This construction isalso open to the objection that only a portion of the heating-surface ofthe pipes is exposed to the air-currents except at the point ofdischarge, so that full efficiency of the heatingsurface provided bysaid pipes is not elfec tively utilized.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the objections just pointedout and to provide an apparatus compact and self-contained occupyinglittle or no more space than has been occupied heretofore by either thefan alone or the heater alone and comprising a complete device includingfan, heater, coils, and manifolds, the parts of which are so arrangedand'dispose'd with reference to each other as to give full effect to allof the heating-surface employed, certain and positive circulation of thesteam through the pipes constituting the heating-surface, highefficiency in delivering the air-currents from the fan through theair-spaces between the heating-pipes, economy in space occupied, as wellas in the material and labor which go to make up the cost ofconstruction, and in which provision is made whereby regulation of theheater may be readily effected.

To these ends my invention consists, primarily, in. a fan-blower heatingapparatus comprising a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality of heating-pipessurrounding said fan-wheel, feeding and drip manifolds, to the ends ofwhich said pipes are respectively connected, and a casing for said wheeland pipes having a substantially continuous lateral outlet at the marginof one of its sides, whereby the air is forced from all points on theperiphery of the fan to travel in a continuous current radially outwardbetween the heater-pipes and also lengthwise of these pipes, and alsoand at the same time laterally outward between the pipes in a directionparallel with the axis of the fan, being discharged from the heaterthrough an opening or openings eX- tending over a large area.

The invention also consists in certain other novel features, whichwillbe hereinafter more particularly described, and then pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of an apparatus embodying my invention in its preferred or mosthighly-developed form. Fig.

2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is aview, similar toFig. 1, illustrating a modified form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1and 2, in which the heater is composed of straight pieces. Fig. 4 is avertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan View ofamodilication of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4, adapted for usein spaces of contracted height and withthe fan and heating-pipesarranged in an approximately horizontal position. Fig. 6 is asectionalView of thesame/taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. '7 is an enlargeddetail plan View of one of the corners of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5and 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same, taken on the line 8 8 ofFig. 7 and lookingin the direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 is a sectionalview taken on the line 9 J of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of thearrow. Fig. 10 is a view of a further modification of the apparatus,embodying the employment of a plurality of fans, the heater beingconstructed in the manner shown in Figs. 4and 5. Fig. 11 is a viewillustrating a further modification of the apparatus analogous to thatform shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and illustrating the adaptation of myinvention to a type of heater now in common use. Fig. 12 is a verticalsectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11. tail View of thatportion of the upper manifold and its associated parts shown in sectionin Fig-1, and Fig. 14 is a similar view of the lower manifold shown insection in said figure.

Referring first to the preferred form of my apparatus shown in Figs. 1and 2 of the drawings, 15 indicatesa supporting-frame on which theapparatus is mounted and which is provided with annular portions 16 oneach side of theapparatus, having bearings 17, in which is mounted theshaft 18 of the fan 19. The fan may be driven in any suitable manner,and in Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown the fan-shaft as coupleddirectly to the main shaft of an engine 20, which is mounted on apedestal or bracket 21 at one side ofthe apparatus. The fan issurrounded by a plurality of pipes 22, which form the heater and whichin the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are circular in theirgeneral arrangement, being substantially concentric with the axis of thefan and forming an annular body, surrounding the same with the innermostpipes in immediate proximity to the outer edges of the fan-blades. Inthe construction shown these pipes 22, which constitute the units of theheater, are each approximately semicircular in form and have their upperends connected to a supply or feeding manifold 23 and their lower endsto a drip-manifold 24. I prefer todiv-ide themanifolds into sections, asshown, and in the particular construction shown the upper or feedingmanifold comprises three sections, each adapted to receivethe ends oftwo transverse rows of pipes on each side, while the lower or dripmanifold comprises six sections, each adapted Fig. 13 is-an enlarged de-7 to receive the ends of a single transverse row of pipes on each side.The particular subdivision of the manifolds hereinbefore described isthat which I prefer for the reasons hereinafter given; but I do not wishto be understood as limiting my invention thereto. The sections of themanifolds are separated by air-spaces 25 to prevent the interruptionofthe passage of air-currents longitudinally of the pipes, and tofacilitate the proper spacin g of the sections they are provided withprojections or lugs 26 on their under side which tions are each providedwith a pipe 30, hav' ing a controlling-valve 31, said pipes beingconnected with a source of supply of live steam, so that the live-steamsupply may be drawn upon for heating purposes. Vith this construction itis desirable to employ a reducing-Valve between the heater and thelivesteam supply in order to permit the conjoint use of the live steamand exhaust-steam. The sections of the drip-manifold are each providedwith a discharge-pipe 32, having a controlling-valve 33, and also at theother end each of said sections is provided with an airvalve 34.

The arrangement of the pipes which I prefer is that known as a staggeredarrangement, in which the pipes of one transverse series lie radiallyopposite the spaces between the pipes of the adjacent series, as shownin the drawings.

The fan and heater are inclosed in a suitable casing, and in itspreferred form this casing consists of side pieces and a pcripheralportion 36. The side pieces are annular in form, having a centralopening 37, through which air is admitted to the interior of the casing,and said side pieces are of less diameter than the heater proper and theinclosing peripheral portion 36 of the casing, whereby there is formedon each side of the apparatus a space or opening 38 between the outermargin of the side piece and the edge of the peripheral portion of thecasing, which spaces or openings are preferably substantiallycontinuous, as shown, and which are located at the outer margins of thesides of the casing. These openings form the outlets through which theheated air is discharged from the apparatus, and in the particular formshown there are two of these outlets, one at each side of the apparatus;but it is obvious that if the requirements of the case IIO provided aplurality of right and left threaded I coupling-sections 39, havingacentral wrenchgrasp If), by means of which theycan be rotated andscrewed into correspondinglythreaded apertures in the ends of the pipes22 and in the manifolds, respectively. By these means each semicircularpipe 22 may be readily connected at its ends to the two manifolds, andby reason of this construction, the coupling-sections being of lessinternal diameter than the pipes, the steam passage or conduit isreduced at the point where steam is admitted to the pipesections, and byreason of the reduction at this point I have found that in practice amore efficient and even distribution of the heating effect of the steammay be obtained.

The apparatus thus constructed is particularly adapted for the heatingof large spaces which are not subdivided-as, for example, large roomsunobstructed by partitions. In

the operation of the apparatus the airis blown by the fan radiallyacross the pipes in a direction outward from the axis of the wheel byreason of the centrifugal force developed by the rotation of thefan-wheel. The air is also caused to move lengthwise of the pipes byreason of the angular velocity imparted to it by the fan-wheel. Finally,the air, being unable to escape in either of the directions-indicated byreason of the presence of the peripheral portion 36 of the casing, iscaused to move laterally in a direction parallel with the axis of thefan-wheel shaf tin order thatit may escape through the lateral openingor open ings provided for that purpose. It will of course be understoodthat during this movement of the air in these several directions it isbrought thoroughly into contact with all sides of the heating-pipes andwith all portions thereof, so that the heating-surface of the heater isthoroughly utilized. It therefore follows that by the use of thisapparatus I am enabled to dispense with a considerable amount of pipe,as compared with such heaters as ordinarily constructed, without anydiminution in the heating effect, or, in other words, a smaller totalamount of piping will produce the same heating effect or the same amounta greater effect. The ad vantages due to the reduction in the amount ofspace occupied, superior compactness, and the se1f-con tained nature ofthe structure will also be at once apparent. The subdivision of theinanifolds into sections having air spaces or pas sages between themprevents any interruption in the continuity of .the travel of theaircurrents.longitudinally of the heater-pipes and at the same timepresents a large increased heating-surface.

The heating effect may be controlled in various waysas, for example, byregulating the-admission of steam by means of the valves 29 or 31, orboth of them, and these valves may also be so manipulated as to admitsteam to some of the groups or sections of pipes, while excluding itfrom others. I prefer, however, to regulate the heating effect bymanipulating the valves of the sections of the drip-manifold, and thismaybe done either by closing one or more of the drip-valves 33,according to the number of pipes which it is de sired to cut off orrender non-effective, whereupon the drip-manifold section or sectionsand the pipes connected therewith, of which the drip valve or valveshave been closed,will become filled with water, and thereby renderednon-effective as heating devices. If desired, however, the same end maybe obtained by opening one or more of the airvalves 3% while the propersteam-valves are turned off, and thus permitting any desired portion ofthe heater to fill with air and become dead. I prefer the subdivision ofthe drip-manifold into alarge number of sections, for the reason that afiner regulation of the heating effect may thus be obtained, and in theconstruction shown any one or more of the rows of pipes may be cut out,if desired. I have found, however, that it is not desirable to sominutely subdivide the feeding.

manifold, as the proper supply of steam to the pipes would be therebyinterfered with.

It is obvious, of course, that the heating effect may also be regulatedby controlling the velocity of the fan.

The construction just describedis, as already stated, that which I deemthe most highly-developed form of my invention and whichI prefer underordinary circumstances. The circular form of the heating-pipes enablesme to bring them into close proximity to the line of travel of the edgesof the fanblades, and thereby renders the contact between the air andsaid pipes, due to the angular velocity imparted to the air by the fan,more complete and effective. I do not, however, wish to be understood aslimiting my invention to an apparatus in which the heating-pipes arecircular in form, and in Figs. 3

right pipes being similarly inclined to preserve the rectangular form ofthe heater and this inclination serving to effectively drain theheating-pipes and prevent the accumulation of watertherein and at thesame time assist the circulation of the steam. With this constructionthe pipes 41 maybe screwed directly into the manifolds without theintervention of intermediate coupling-sections.

In the forms of apparatus hereinbefore described the arrangement thereofis one which might be termed vertical, the fan rotating in a verticalplane around a horizontal axis and the heater and its case standing at aconsiderable height. My invention is not, however, limited to aconstruction wherein this vertical arrangement of the apparatus isfollowed, and in Figs. 5 to 9 of the drawings, inclusive, I have shown aform of apparatus which may be termed a horizontal apparatus, in whichthe fan revolves around an axis which more nearly approaches theVertical than the horizontal, so that the plane of revolution of the fanis approximately horizontal and the pipes are arranged in correspondingplanes. This form of apparatus is particularly adapted for use inlocalities where the vertical height available is restricted and wherean upright apparatus of sufficient size to provide proper heatingcapacity could not be used. I have also in this connection shown theheater as so constructed as to be divided in a vertical plane into twoparts or groups, each composed of a plurality of separable sections, sothat this particular style of apparatus is particularly adapted forlarge installations where the parts are necessarily too heavy to beshipped or handled after the apparatus is assembled. Referring moreparticularly to the construction under consideration, thefeeding-manifold 23 is composed of a plurality of sections superposedupon each other in two separate vertical series, with interveningair-spaces 25 between the sections and each section being provided witha separate steam-supply pipe 28 in the- 24, which is constructed ofsections divided horizontally and vertically in the same manner as thefeeding-manifold. The result of this construction is that the heater asa Whole is composed of separate sections, each comprising one or morerows of pipes, two being shown in the present instance, one-half of ahorizontal section of the feedingmanifold and one-half of a horizontalsection of the drip-manifold. These units of construction may be readilytransported and handled, and the heater may be constructed or built upof them by simply superposing them one upon the other in two seriesproperly arranged relatively to each other, so as to inclose the fan.

The detailed construction of the manifoldsections which I prefer toemploy in this structure is shown more particularlyin Figs. 7, 8, and 9,the sections being each provided with a plurality of shoulders oroifsets 43 to receive the ends of the pipes 41, said shoulders oroffsets being stepped,-as shown, and in the case where each sectionreceives two rows of pipes the stepped offsets are also staggered oralternately arranged, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings I have shown another modified form of myinvention, which is also adapted for use where the available space is socontracted vertically that a rectangular or circular heater, such asthose hereinbefore described, will not provide sufficient heatingcapacity to meet the requirements of the case when vertically arranged,and it is not desired to use the horizontal form just described. In thisconstruction the upper and lower rows of pipes of the heater are madelonger than those at the ends, so that the entire heater is given anelongated shape, and a plurality of fans are placed in the elongatedspace thus provided within the heater. In the present instance Ihaveshown two of these fans, located, respectively, at each end of theelongated space thus formed, there being provided between the fans, ifdesired, an air-space 44, which is partially cut 0E from the fan-spacesby partitions 45, so arranged as to leave communicating openings 46.This air-chamber may be provided with a damper 47 in one or both sidesof the casing, and, if desired, a delivery of cold air may be madethrough these dampers for the purpose of efiectually increasing thevolume of air delivered from the apparatus and at the same time reducingits temperature.

In Figs. 11 and 12 Ihave shown a very simple form of my apparatus whichis adapted for application to a type of heater already in general useand which is characterized by the employment of manifolds at the bottomof the heater, with a plurality of pipes rising vertically thereof andconnected in pairs by a corresponding plurality ofhorizontal pipes attheir tops. In this construction, the pipes being nested withintheother, the innermost pipes being shorter,and consequently smaller,

are least efficient in proportion to their cost, since the expense ofthreading and joining them is as great as that of threadingand joiningthe outer and longer pipes, which present more heating-surface, whileowing to their short length it is much more difficult to assemble them.In the construction which I have devised these central or innermost.heatingpipes are dispensed with and the fan is placed in the opening orspace thus formed in the interior of the heater and inclosed by sideplates 35 of a proper shape to close the said opening at the sidesthereof. In this construction I arrange a feeding-manifold 23 and adrip-manifold 24 on each side of the apparatus, so as to equalize theheating on both .on one side receive the hottest steam and all sides ofthe heater and obviate the objection I heretofore existing in suchheaters as usually constructed, wherein all the ascending pipes thedescending pipes on the other side receive only the water ofcondensation and that part of the steam not already condensed, butalready low in temperature, so that the heatingsurface is effectual onone side of the apparatus only. In this construction the space below thefan-wheel is not occupied by pipes or heating-surfaces of any kind, anda damper 48 is provided in one or both sides of the apparatus, which.may be utilized in the manner already indicated in referring to theconstruction shown in Fig. 10.

It is obvious that modifications of the structures hereinbefore setforth may be made without departing from the principle of my invention.It will be observed that in each of the severalstructureshereinbeforedescribed and shown in the drawings there is present a rotary fan-wheel,a plurality of heating-pipes surrounding said fan-wheel, feeding anddrip manifolds to which theends of said pipes are respectivelyconnected, and a casing for said wheel, and pipes which inclose themperipherally and laterally except for the inlet-openings at the centersof the lateral portions of the casing and for the outlet-openings, whichare substantially continuous and which are located at the margins of thesides of the easing, so that in each instance the currents of airproduced by the fan have the several motions hereinbefore described andimpinge upon all portions of the heating-surfaces presented by the pipesof the heater. I regard any structure which comprises these features,either in the form just stated or in the modified form wherein one ofthe discharge-outlets is closed, as being within the scope of myinvention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood-as limitingmyself to the precise details hereinbefore described and shown in thedrawings.

I claim 1. In a fan-blower heating apparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, aplurality of heating'pipes surrounding said fan-wheel, feeding and dripmanifolds to which the ends of said pipes are respectively connected,and a casing for said wheel and pipes having a substantially continuouslateral outlet at the margin of one of its sides, substantiallyasdescribed. 7

2. In a fan-blower heating apparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality ofheating-pipes surrounding said fan-wheel, feeding and drip manifolds towhich the ends of said pipes are respectively connected, and a casingfor said wheel and pipes having substantially continuous lateral outletsat the margins of its sides, substantially as described.

In a fan-blower heating apparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality ofheating-pipes arranged in close proximity to the periphery of the saidfan-wheel and substantially concentric with the shaft thereof, feedingand drip manifolds to which the ends of said pipes are respectivelyconnected, and a casing for said wheel and pipes having a substantiallycontinuous lateral outlet at the margin of one of its sides,substantially as described.

4. In a fan-blowerheating apparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality ofheating'pipes surrounding said fan-wheel, feeding and drip manifolds towhich the ends of said pipes are respectively connected, said manifoldsbeing each divided into sections having air-passages between them, and acasing for said wheel, pipes and manifolds having a substantiallycontinuous lateral outlet at the margin of one of its sides,substantially as described.

5. In a fan-blower heatingapparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality ofheating-pipes surrounding said fan-wheel, feeding and drip manifolds towhich the ends of said pipes are respectively connected, the manifoldsbeing divided into sections and the pipes connected thereto in groups orseries, means for independently controlling the passage of the heatingfluid through said groups or sections, and a casing surrounding saidwheel and pipes and having a substantially continuous lateral outlet atthe margin of one of its sides, substantially as described.

6. In a fan-blower heating apparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality ofheating-pipes surrounding said fan-wheel, feeding and drip manifolds towhich the ends of said pipes are respectively connected, said pipesbeing of reduced internal diameterat their point of connection with thefeeding-manifold, and a casing for said wheel and pipes having asubstantially continuous lateral outlet at the margin of one of itssides, substantially as described.

7. In a fan-blower heating apparatus, a rotary fan-wheel, a plurality ofsemicircular pipes surrounding said fan-wheel and arranged in two groupson opposite sides thereof, feeding and drip manifolds located betweenthe ends of the groups, right and left threaded coupling-sectionsconnecting each end of each semicircular pipe with the adjacentmanifold, said pipes and manifolds being provided withreversely-threaded apertures to receive the ends of saidcoupling-sections, I

VILLIAM E. ALLING'I ON;

Witnesses:

FREDERICK O. GooDwIN, JEROME W. MILLINGTON.

